METROLOGY

CHAPTER 48:04
METROLOGY

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

    SECTION

PART I
PRELIMINARY

    1.    Short title

    2.    Interpretation

PART II
STANDARD WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

    3.    Measuring units and prefixes

    4.    Standard units

    5.    Lawful units of weight, capacity, length, area and volume

    6.    Conversion of imperial standard units

    7.    Custody of some standards

PART III
CALIBRATION

    8.    Period of comparison

    9.    Calibration of standards and equipment

    10.    Certificate of calibration

PART IV
ADMINISTRATION

    11.    Appointment of officers

    12.    Establishment, composition and functions of Metrology Committee

    13.    Establishment of the National Metrology Institute

    14.    Pattern approval

    15.    Fees

PART V
VERIFICATION OF INSTRUMENTS, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

    16.    Verification of instruments, weights and measures

    17.    Rejection of instruments, weights and measures

    18.    Verification procedure

    19.    Powers of entry and inspection

PART VI
SALE OF ARTICLES AND USE OF INSTRUMENTS, WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

    20.    Contracts to be made by reference to authorized measure

    21.    Marking of containers and wrappers

    22.    Sale and delivery of articles

    23.    Pre-packed articles

    24.    Use of verified instruments, weights and measures

    25.    Price list

    26.    Short quantity and false declaration of quantity

    27.    False, unjust, unverified and rejected instruments, weights and measures

    28.    Importation and sale of instruments, weights and measures

    29.    Repairs and installation of instruments

PART VII
MISCELLANEOUS

    30.    Regulations

    31.    Offences by inspectors, verification officers, etc.

    32.    Offences by persons other than by inspectors

    33.    Forfeiture

    34.    Acts and omissions

    35.    Safeguards to traders

    36.    Documentary evidence by inspectors or verification officers

    37.    Burden of proof

    38.    Recovery of fees

    39.    Transitional provision

    40.    Repeal and savings

        FIRST SCHEDULE

        SECOND SCHEDULE

        THIRD SCHEDULE

        FOURTH SCHEDULE

        FIFTH SCHEDULE

10 of 2016
G.N. 66/2020

    An Act to provide for the establishment of a national measurement system, and the establishment of a National Metrology Institute in Malawi; the improvement of quality of manufactured products, the uniformity of measurements, verification of instruments, weights and measures; the protection of the public in relation to health, safety and environmental controls; and for other matters incidental thereto

PART I
PRELIMINARY

1.    Short title

    This Act may be cited as the Metrology Act.

2.    Interpretation

    In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires—

    “article” includes any liquid, food, chattel, ware, merchandise, commodity and other goods of any description and, where necessary, any article and its packaging;

    “authorized measure” means a unit of weight, length, capacity, area or volume referred to in section 3;

    “Board” means the Malawi Bureau of Standards Board established under section 7 of the Malawi Bureau of Standards Act;

    “Bureau” means the Malawi Bureau of Standards established under section 3 of the Malawi Bureau of Standards Act;

    “calibrate” means to determine the relationship between the measured amount and the indicated value, and cognate expressions shall be construed accordingly;

    “Committee” means the Metrology Committee referred to in section 12;

    “correct”, in relation to an instrument, weight or measure, means correct within such limits of error and with such sensitivity as may be prescribed;

    “Director General” means the Chief Executive Officer of the Malawi Bureau of Standards appointed under section 24 of the Malawi Bureau of Standards Act;

    “error” in relationship to an instrument, weight or measure, means the difference between the true value and the indicated value;

    “industrial metrology” means that part of metrology which deals with measurements needed for industrial operations such as in production and testing processes;

    “industrial metrology officer” means the officer appointed as such under section 11;

    “inspector” means a weights and measures inspector appointed under section 11;

    “Institute” means the National Metrology Institute established under section 13;

    “instrument” means a weighing or measuring instrument;

    “legal metrology” means that part of metrology relating to activities which result from a statutory requirement and concerning a measurement, unit of measurement, measuring instrument and method of measurement, and which is performed by a competent authority;

    “measuring equipment” means a device intended to be used to make measurements, alone or in conjunction with a supplementary device based on the SI system of measurement, and weighing equipment shall be construed accordingly;

    “metrology” means the field of knowledge concerned with measurements or also defined as the science of measurement;

    “national accreditation system” means a voluntary system which establishes and verifies competence to perform specific activities;

    “national measurement system” means a system which provides for the establishment and development of measurement standards, measurements needed for industrial operations and regulatory controls of measurements performed in areas of commerce, trade, industry, health, safety…